Heaven (Must Be There)

 

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.  Matthew 5:3

A good friend, mentor, and pastor, John Gargis, once told me something that I have never forgotten: “It teaches me so much when I meet someone that has absolutely nothing and still shows gratitude!  It teaches me that gratitude is not about your circumstances.”  I agree with brother John and the above verse from Matthew also comes to mind.

You see, if you believe that Jesus died for your sins and you recognize that only He can forgive you, you can rest assured that you are going to heaven to spend eternity by His side.  There is nothing you can do and there is no way to earn your way into heaven; it’s God’s free gift to those who admit their need for a Savior.

Thanks be to God for His never-ending love, mercy, and grace!

Patience

 

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will.  Then you will receive all that He has promised.  Hebrews 10:36

Patience is a trait evident in a person of strong character, so this is certainly an area of my life that needs drastic improvement.  I still get frustrated on my 20 minute commute between home and the office when traffic backs up.  I sometimes expect too much out of our boys (youngest in 10th Grade and the oldest a freshman in college) and am definitely impatient  when it comes to work; it's a hurry up and wait business on a good day.

The above verse from Hebrews confirms that we cannot have endurance or perseverance without developing some patience first.  As a follower of Christ, our faith will be tested, time after time.  As we pass each test, we will develop more patience, which will result in greater strength when we are tested again.

It’s when we are patient that we eventually receive the fulfillment of all that God has promised us.  Thanks be to God!!!

Hungry Heart

 

What is the price of two sparrows-one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it….So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.  Matthew 10:29-31

I believe that deep within every human heart lies a hunger for significance.  We all want our lives to mean something, to make a difference, and to be worth something.  For some reason, too many people feel that their lives don’t mean anything and they in fact feel insignificant.

I have a great friend who is sharp, witty, funny, and a good looking guy, but has absolutely no self-confidence whatsoever.  His feelings of insignificance have held him back for far too long.

The good news is that the Bible reassures all of us that we do matter and we are significant. The best part is that it is not because of anything we can accomplish on our own, but because God loves each of us and promises us that we are indeed valuable to Him!

The Question

 

He who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:6

Just recently, Thomas (the disciple that doubted Jesus' death and resurrection) became a topic of conversation among friends.  I can only imagine that God wanted me write about him or better yet, wanted to reassure me to trust Him at all costs, despite some recent difficulties I have faced as of late.

People without solid faith are at the mercy of the winds when they face the storms of life.  They have a difficult time learning where God is leading them because their faith is not strong enough to discern God's voice and will for their lives.  When your faith is weakened, it's hard to see all that Jesus is doing to protect you and in the midst of a storm, this is a major problem.

We (myself-definitely included) need to expect God to answer our prayers, petitions, and needs, without doubting Him.  God desires to be in fellowship with us, to speak to us, and to meet with us.  Doubt makes us wonder whether interaction with God is even a possibility.

Open your heart and mind and trust God without doubt...if you want it you've got to believe.

Help!

 

Whenever they were in trouble and turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought Him out, they found Him.  2 Chronicles 15:4

Simply stated, there just aren't too many people you depend on for help these days.  I am guilty of this to a degree.  Sometimes our life can become so overwhelmingly busy, we cannot afford the time to lend a helping hand to a family member, friend, or neighbor in need.

Thankfully, our awesome God works in drastically different ways.  God helps us by always being available.  He is always ready and willing to help us and to listen to us, whenever we call out to Him; any time, any day, any place, regardless of the situation.

Prayer is our lifeline and it connects us to our Father.  Knowing this, we should pray daily and receive the help that we truly need.

Rock

 

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.  Philippians 4:6

I recently read a fantastic devotional on the topic of trust-more specifically, trusting God.  The good Lord delivered that message in His perfect timing as I found myself on my knees, praying, and trying my best to trust Him with my current circumstances before the end of the work day on Monday.

The best way to overcome worry in your life is to have a greater awareness of God’s presence.  I like to look in the past at all that God has done for me over the course of my lifetime to know that He isn’t going to stop now because of my present circumstances.  I have faced all sorts of trials and circumstances during my lifetime, but no matter how big they were, God has always been and will always be bigger!

We must let God know that we do sincerely trust Him, with all of our being.  We must also continue to praise Him for all that He has done, all He is doing, and all He is going to do!  Doing so will give us greater calm to face the day with the confidence that we are loved by the King of all Kings, our Savior, our Provider, our Deliverer, and our Rock.

Good Times, Bad Times

 

Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him.  God is a refuge for us-a fortress and a high tower. Psalm 62:8

If I can be perfectly honest with my Daily DEVO readers for a moment, the last few weeks have been tough and has me questioning myself and God to some degree.  

 

To say that it's 'been busy' at work simply cannot begin to describe how the past few weeks have been for me and my team. There was a span of days this past month that I didn't wrap up the workday before the sun went down. Trying to assist my clients and insureds and keep them taken care of during what we would call a "hard market"  has been one of the single greatest challenges in my 26 years working as insurance broker.   Add personal responsibilities to the mix and you will start to come unraveled if you are not careful.

Like I have been known to do before, I have worked myself into a ‘funk’ now that I have been in for the past several days.  Regardless, I am feeling better now things really are going well at work, we have been blessed, just wish there was more time in each day. 

There are many things that just don't make sense to me right now, but I am convinced that I must rely on and trust God.  We cannot just trust God when things are going well, we must also learn to trust Him during bad times. I also believe that along the way on our journey with God, we will encounter many different trust tests with our loving Father.

We may never have all of the answers, but we must learn to live in our faith, trusting God in all circumstances.

Free Somehow

 

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, emancipation from bondage, freedom.  2 Corinthians 3:17

Jesus came to this earth for one reason, to set us free.  This freedom is sometimes misunderstood.  Being free doesn't mean that we are free to do whatever we feel like doing, instead it means that we have been set free from legalism so that we can follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. 

The legalistic mentality is what plagues our current society and it says that everybody has to do exactly the same things, the same way, all of the time.  This conflicts with the Spirit of God who leads us as individuals in unique and creative ways.

Jesus wants us to be free; free from sin, free from being manipulated and controlled, free from trying to be better than others, free from addictions and dependencies, and last but not least, free to be who you are!

I'm Not Alone

 

"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;  that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.  John 14: 16-17

The only time I have to exercise, with a family and career, is typically early in the morning; before work and school begin and often while it’s still dark outside.  We live out in the country, so there are no streetlights and it's dark and a little creepy while I'm on my morning jog.  Most of us don’t like to be alone for any length of time, but all of those mornings jogging by myself, I have never felt like I was alone, because I guess I always know that God is always with me.

All believers have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them once they accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, so none of us are ever alone.  The Holy Spirit is vastly different than our human companions because only He can meet our every need.  When no one else will seem to listen, He is always there and wants to hear more.  He knows what the future holds for us, so only He is equipped to guide our every step along the way.

We are all created with a void that can only be filled by the Holy Spirit and with Him, we can rest assured that we are never alone!

His glory, mercy, goodness, and love are constant and new with every sunrise!

Dirty Side Down

 

Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow.  Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.  Isaiah 1:18

There are a couple things that every single human being has in common, regardless of our personal beliefs, background, nationality, gender, etc...the first being that we are all eventually going to die, and the second is that no one is free of sin.   The only exception being Jesus Christ, who defeated the grave and lived a sinless and blameless life here on this earth.

With that said, when you repent and seek God for forgiveness, God looks at you as though you have never sinned.  It means you become blameless before Him, like His beloved Son. 

God does not sweep our sins under the carpet, either.  Instead, He washes all of our sins away, making us perfect and pure like Jesus.

Thanks be to God for His mercy, endless grace, and forgiveness!

Heaven (Must Be There)

 

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.  Matthew 5:3

A good friend, mentor, and pastor, John Gargis, once told me something that I have never forgotten: “It teaches me so much when I meet someone that has absolutely nothing and still shows gratitude!  It teaches me that gratitude is not about your circumstances.”  I agree with brother John and the above verse from Matthew also comes to mind.

You see, if you believe that Jesus died for your sins and you recognize that only He can forgive you, you can rest assured that you are going to heaven to spend eternity by His side.  There is nothing you can do and there is no way to earn your way into heaven; it’s God’s free gift to those who admit their need for a Savior.

Thanks be to God for His never-ending love, mercy, and grace!

Watching The Wheels

 

And as for you, brethren, do not become weary or lose heart in doing right [but continue in well-doing without weakening.]  2 Thessalonians 3:13

As I left my local gym the other morning, I felt pretty sore from a strenuous workout.  I couldn't help but recall that it was not too terribly long ago that you wouldn't have found me anywhere close to a gym, jogging, working out, or doing anything physical, for that matter.  The physical activity that I consistently do on a daily basis provides a great analogy for our Spiritual lives as well.

God’s Word teaches us that we must be alert, cautious, and active.  The enemy knows this well and knows that inactivity is the only way to defeat a believer.   Sometimes, the only way to resist the devil is by continuously moving against him.  We can get into some big trouble when we become passive or lazy in our efforts.

Too many believers want the good life, but they are passively sitting around wishing their lives away, hoping that something good will happen to them.   If you truly want the life Christ intended you to have, keep on moving and don’t give up!

We are all created with a void that can only be filled by the Holy Spirit and with Him, we can rest assured that we are never alone!

Pretty Persuasion

 

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.  1 Corinthians 2:4

I sometimes have a hard time expressing myself during a conversation;  I actually prefer to collect my thoughts and then write them down.  It’s hard to imagine the apostle Paul, the author of most of the New Testament, as a weak, fearful, and trembling kind of guy, but that’s exactly how he viewed himself.  He must have been much more impressive in written word than he was in person, regardless, people became believers not because of how Paul delivered the gospel to others, but because of God supernaturally proving His own truth.

You see, God’s power alone doesn't convince anyone to believe the gospel.  Jesus performed many miracles during His earthly ministry, and many that witnessed still refused to believe.  There is no amount of persuasion or wise tactics that will ultimately impact another person’s life, it all comes down to our witness to others and when people can see us trusting in Christ.

A believer who reflects such a trust will always be accompanied by God’s mighty power and there is nothing else like it that can change lives!

Against All Odds

 

Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the Lord your God fights for you, just as He has promised.  Joshua 23:10

One of my favorite Bible passages since I was a child, is the story of how the young boy, David, defeated the giant, Goliath.  In addition to being a story of remarkable triumph, we can take also take courage in knowing that God fights for us as well, despite the odds against us.

The reason I believe the story of David and Goliath resonates with so many people is because you simply don’t have to be ‘above average’ for God to accomplish great things through you.  God has always delivered His people no matter what circumstances they faced, and regardless of the odds.

Just knowing that God works through us despite our limitations is encouraging, so what limitations are holding us back from being great?

Give

 

Freely you have received, freely give.  Matthew 10:8

We all make mistakes from time to time which hurt people inadvertently.  Sometimes nothing is more painstakingly difficult than extending and seeking forgiveness from a loved one, more specifically, a family member.   Forgiveness is the only way to bring genuine healing to a damaged relationship so that both people can move forward together in the relationship.  No wonder the divorce rate is astounding in our country; it’s almost easier to divorce than it is to work through the healing process of forgiveness.

It’s human nature to place the blame on someone else and not seek to repair the relationship, but Jesus gave us all the best example of forgiveness.  As He hung from the cross on the day He was crucified, He spoke the words “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” to the soldiers who had just beaten and flogged Him and were casting lots to divide His garments.  

Forgiveness is the only way to bring restoration and reconciliation back to a broken relationship and we should all extend and ask for forgiveness regardless of who is at fault.

Forgiveness has been given freely to us, so we must be quick to offer it freely to others.

Walkin'

 

For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.  Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.  Colossians 2: 5-7

It seems like yesterday that our youngest son, Elijah, was transitioning from crawling to walking, but now he's growing up way too quick. Elijah is now in 10th grade in high school and has his driver's license and grader our oldest, Elliott, is a freshman at UTC (GO MOCS!), which is still just so hard to believe.

Many Christians associate faith with their salvation experience, but after we enter into a relationship with Christ, we must learn to walk with Him the remainder of our days on this earth.

We live in a performance driven society and many Christians also view their Christian life the same way.  God is not as concerned with our individual performance as He is with our faith.  When you think about it, we receive Christ in faith, so why would that change once we begin our walk with the Lord?

So what does walking with Christ entail?  We must learn to plant our roots in Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and build our foundation through obedience.  Finally, and over time, we must trust Him, which ultimately makes our faith grow exponentially.

Walking with Christ is a continuous process that will more than likely last the remainder of your lifetime, but as you trust God and your faith grows stronger, you will live in the stability of His love and blessings regardless of any circumstance you face.

Lessons

 

Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.  1 Peter 4:13

The more I learn about Jesus, the more I begin to understand just how radical He was.  In fact, Jesus was and still is so radical that believers must seem insane to the outside world.  I mean, who in their ‘right mind’ says things such as “love your enemies” or “rejoice in your sufferings?”

Human nature has very little interest in a faith that includes joyful self-denial and hardships.  Basic Christian beliefs simply do not seem rational to those who live for today only and misunderstand God’s love to mean comfort.

We know that we can face hardships on this earth with joy because we know the outcome.  We also understand what it means to follow a Lord who suffered.

Even though it may not have always been evident at the time, Jesus won every battle He ever faced.  Appearances truly are deceiving.  Sometimes what seems like defeat is often times the road to victory, especially when God is involved. We may seem crazy for keeping our joy during hard times, but in the end, we know what our suffering was for…

Working Man

 

For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun.  Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. Ecclesiastes 10:9-10

 

I have been blessed with some wonderful opportunities at work that I have been able to capitalize on recently.  It wasn't too long ago that I felt defeated and a bit like a failure, but after clinging to God's promises and with continued effort, things began to turn around in my career path in a big way.

Like anyone who has ever questioned a career move or daydreamed about greener pastures when you feel that life has been unfair, we cannot let the inequities of life keep us from earnest and dedicated work.

We must keep our perspective; we serve God, not people.  Whatever it is that you are doing, do it with all of your might and trust that with God's help, you will be successful.

I'm Amazed

 

Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. And He said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified.  He is risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him.”  Mark 16:5 

Sometimes, especially with the arrival of fall, the wonderful and exciting news of the risen Christ, which is celebrated during the spring at Easter, can seem like a distant and fading memory.  The daily grind of life and our normal daily routines often dull our senses which cause us to forget just how amazing it is that our Lord and Savior conquered the grave.

On my morning jog, I noticed the bright rays of the morning sun breaking through the October clouds and it made me ponder how truly awesome our God is.  The disciples must have felt defeated, alone, and scared over the course of the three days between the crucifixion and the morning they went to check the tomb, especially Peter, who had denied Christ three times before Jesus’ death.

Just think for a moment how the disciples must have felt when they rolled away the stone and found an empty grave…thanks be to God!!!

Joy and Happiness

 

How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying His commands.  Psalm 112:1

 

Just as a friendly reminder, happiness is a fleeting emotion that is based on our circumstances, while joyfulness is much deeper and comes from the assurance of knowing that God loves us. 

We need to remember that there is no passage of scripture where we are promised happiness in God’s Word.  However, God promises us something far greater-joy.  If you trust Him, and you know that the God of the universe loves you, and wants to have a relationship with you, and He has promised an eternal future for you, then you can be joyful too.

This kind of joy is not temporary and fleeting and runs much deeper than happiness, because it’s not based on your circumstances. How is your life characterized?  Is it by joy or happiness?

Depending On You

 

Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.  Ephesians 6:10

One of the reoccurring missteps I make as a Christian is becoming way too self-reliant after experiencing a little success.  This mistake is one that is easy to make as a believer in the body of faith, as it is totally unnatural to live in total dependence on God. Think about how many self-help books you can find at any given bookstore...placing dependence on God goes against everything that the world tells us we need to do.

The truth of the matter is that we are in the midst of a spiritual battle while we are here on this earth; life will be a struggle until we draw our last breath and spend eternity in heaven.

The number one rule of engagement in our spiritual battle is to draw our strength from God.  While it seems simple, our natural default mode is to depend on ourselves and not on Him.

We must prepare and equip ourselves daily by prayer and staying grounded in His Word. If we are to bear spiritual fruit, we cannot rely on our own limited resources and strength; we must tap into God's never-ending strength and resources and essentially die to ourselves.

It's the only way we can win and survive; be strong in His mighty power!!

Enjoy The Silence

 

He makes me lie down in fresh, tender green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.  Psalm 23:2

Every fall, particularly Q4 in the employee benefits arena, things move at the speed of light.  Most employers want their benefit plans to start and renew at the beginning of the fiscal year and our work load has increased exponentially this year with many employers facing double digit rate increases on their group medical renewals paired with the continued implosion of the industry due to failed ACA regulations, so needless to say, I have felt a bit overwhelmed at work recently... 

Being so busy, it’s hard for me to even imagine the “still and restful waters” mentioned in the above Psalm.  Regardless, I know that the “still waters” are where I need to go to truly begin to find quiet rest and the strength that I need to face the pressures of life.

The “still waters” are healing waters that are available to all believers at any place or any time, but rarely do we ever go there.

The next time you are feeling the need to find rest for your soul, let everything get quiet and enjoy the beauty of solitude, if only for a few moments.  We can learn more in moment of silence than we ever possibly could in all of the noise of the world.

Spend more time in the still waters and enjoy peace and rest for your soul.